Rubber teat element with flexible head geometry

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a rubber teat element (1) having a head part (2) and a shank part (3), which is connected to the head part (2). The head part (2) has a lateral surface (5) and an introduction opening (6) for an animal&#39;s teat, wherein the introduction opening (6) is delimited by an inwardly oriented lip (4). The lateral surface (5) has at least one expansion region (7), which extends over at least part of a lateral-surface circumference (8) and at least part of a head-part length (9), wherein the lateral surface (5) is of undulating form, as seen in cross section, in the expansion region (7). The invention also relates to a teat cup and a milking cluster having a corresponding rubber teat element. The present invention provides a rubber teat element which, in particular in the case of small, thin and short animal teats, can be adapted to different teat geometries on account of the radial expansion capability of the head part.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2016/066479, filed Jul. 12,2016, which claims priority to German Application No. 10 2015 111 476.3filed Jul. 15, 2015, the disclosures of which are incorporated byreference herein.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention relates to a rubber teat element, to a teatcup having a corresponding rubber teat element and to a milking clusterincluding at least two teat cups and at least one corresponding rubberteat element.

A milking cluster, which comprises multiple teat cups, is used for theautomatic milking of an animal, in particular of a cow. The teat cups,as a rule, are connected to a claw by means of short milk tubes. Themilked milk is directed into a milk tank from the claw. Such anarrangement, however, is not absolutely necessary because the teat cupscan also be connected directly, that is to say without the interpositionof a claw, to a milk line of the milking system by means of a milk tube.

A teat cup includes a teat cup sleeve in which a rubber teat element isarranged. Various configurations of a rubber teat element are known.Thus, for example, EP 0 477 950 A1 describes a rubber teat element witha head part, on which is provided a sealing lip which delimits aninsertion opening for the teat. The head part is connected to a shankpart.

It is known that when an animal, in particular a cow, is being milked,the teat must not be constricted by the rubber teat element. Inparticular at the end of a milking operation, the teat cup can climb upon the teat in an unwanted manner. Numerous blood and lymph vessels aresituated in the region of the Furstenberg rosette at the transitionbetween the teat and the base of the udder. Said region is relativelysensitive such that it is possible for the blood and lymph vessels to beconstricted as a result of the teat cup climbing up. This leads to arelease of adrenalin, which results in a reduced milk flow or in theanimal acting in a negative manner during milking. In order, however, toachieve complete strip milking of the udder, post milking work isnecessary. This can result in the milking time being extended which canaffect the condition of the teats.

In conjunction with the present invention, special attention is given tothe start of the milking operation. The problem that arises here is thatthe anatomy and size of the teats of multiple animals and also of oneanimal can be very different. In addition, the teats of an animal canprotrude from the udder at different angles and can be at differentdistances from one another. The known rubber teat elements, however, donot provide sufficient adaptability to the different teat geometries. Inaddition, at the start of milking, time lags can occur in the milkingprocess on account of necessary alignments of the rubber teat elementsor of the selection of different rubber teat elements.

A possible solution to the aforementioned problems is proposed in EP 1954 120 B1. In this case, a region, which enables a relative movementbetween the head part and the shank part, is provided between the headpart and the shank part. Such a region can be realized, for example, inthe form of a joint. When the teats of an animal protrude from the udderat various angles, adaptation to the anatomy of the animal is madepossible as a result of the relative movement between the head part andthe shank part. Such an embodiment is relatively expensive to produceand does not yet solve the problem which is described below inconjunction with teats that are particularly small and thin.

The head outside contour of a known rubber teat element, in particularthe lateral surface of the head, comprises, as a rule, a cylindrical orconical outside surface with a substantially constant diameter. The sameapplies to the inside contour at this point. Depending on the wallthickness in said region, in particular depending on the lateral surfacethickness, the head is more or less flexible or more or less robust. Atthe start of milking, a teat is inserted into the rubber teat elementthrough the insertion opening. In this case, the lip of the rubber teatelement rolls in and adapts to the teat. Such adaptation functions withknown rubber teat elements only for a small range of teat geometries.

The problem increasingly arises of the teats, in particular of cows,always becoming smaller and thinner. When using known rubber teatelements, the problem arises, in particular in the case of small andthin teats, of the head outside diameter of said rubber teat elementsbeing too large for an optimum milking result and in particular forsufficient adhesion of the rubber teat element to the teat. In saidcontext, it must also be considered that the teats not only becomesmaller and thinner in a genetically intended manner, but arealso—especially the rear teats—located closer and closer together. Whenthe distance is so small that the teats touch one another, they are alsoreferred to as so-called “kissing teats”. In view of said developments,it is desirable to be able to shape the head outside diameter of therubber teat element as small as possible.

Mere reduction of the head outside diameter, however, is a problembecause high demands with reference to flexibility and at the same timerobustness are made on the head or on the head part of a rubber teatelement. If the head comprises too little flexibility, the rubber teatelement is not sufficiently adaptable to different teat geometries. If,in contrast, the robustness of the head is not sufficient, duringmilking and in the case of a vacuum created at the same time in theinterior of the head, it is possible for the head region or the lateralsurface of the head part to collapse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Proceeding from this point, the object underlying the present inventionis to solve the problems described in conjunction with the prior art atleast in part. To this end, a rubber teat element, which can be adaptedto different teat geometries and enables gentler and in particularfaster milking, in particular in the case of an animal with small andthin teats, is to be provided. In particular, a teat cup and a milkingcluster, which are provided with a rubber teat element which solves theproblems depicted in conjunction with the prior art at least in part,are also to be provided.

The objects are achieved by a rubber teat element, a teat cup and amilking cluster according to the respective independent claims. Therespective dependent claims are focused on advantageous configurations.It must be pointed out that the features stated in the dependent claimscan be combined together in an arbitrary, technically meaningful mannerand can define embodiments of the invention. Over and above this,features provided in the claims are described and explained in moredetail in the description, further preferred configurations of theinvention being shown.

The rubber teat element according to the invention has a head part and ashank part. The shank part is connected to the head part. The head parthas a lateral surface and an insertion opening for a teat of an animal.The insertion opening is delimited by an inwardly pointing lip. Therubber teat element is characterized in that the lateral surface has atleast one expansion region. The expansion region extends over at leastpart of a lateral surface circumference. In addition, the expansionregion extends over at least part of a head part length. The lateralsurface is formed with an undulatory cross section in the expansionregion.

The present invention advantageously enables a smaller overall height orhead part length and a smaller outside diameter of the head part of therubber teat element, nevertheless with good flexibility and robustnessof the rubber teat element when inserting the teat and during milking.The expansion region enables a high level of flexibility and stretchwhich are necessary to a milking procedure which is gentle to the udder.Over and above this, on account of the flexibility and the stretch ofthe head part, a wide spectrum of teat geometries can be covered withone rubber teat element. In addition, improved performance is producedduring milking because the rubber teat element can adapt quickly andsimply to the different angles and geometries of the teats. Thisresults, among other things, in a shortening of the milking time. At thesame time, the rubber teat element provides improved adhesion becausethe head of the rubber teat element is better adapted to the differentteat geometries.

The present invention turns away, in particular, from a realizationvariant of the rubber teat element with a joint between the shank partand the head part. Such a realization variant has been described inconjunction with the prior art. However, it is possible to combine theprinciple of the present invention with a joint between the head partand the shank part. Such a joint ensures, in particular, that the forcesexerted against the inserted teats are constant over a wide range ofdifferent teat geometries. Such joints are no longer absolutelynecessary in conjunction with the present invention because theexpansion region of the head part provides sufficient flexibility andadaptability to different teat geometries.

On account of the lateral surface of the head part being formed with anundulatory cross section in the expansion region, the robustness of thehead part is able to be increased, as a result of which it is possibleto reduce he wall thickness or the lateral surface thickness of the headpart. The advantage of such reduced lateral surface thickness, in turn,is that it is possible to increase the flexibility and the elasticity,in particular the radial stretch, of the head part with the goodrobustness of the head part remaining the same.

As a result of a reduced lateral surface thickness, an outside headdiameter can also be reduced in relation to known rubber teat elementgeometries. This produces, in particular where the teats of an animalare closely set, improved adhesion because the rubber teat element headsno longer touch one another during milking and/or no longer obstruct themovement of one another. The present invention makes it possible, overand above this, to reduce the overall height of the rubber teat elementhead, here called the head part length. This is particularlyadvantageous in conjunction with the smaller and shorter teats of ananimal. The rubber teat element proposed here can result in a bettermassage action in the case of smaller and shorter teats because adistance in the longitudinal direction from the insertion opening to theshank part is smaller and the shank part is consequently better able tosurround shorter teats.

It is particularly advantageous that, on account of the expansionregion, the head part is able to adapt to the teat geometry when theteat of the animal is inserted. Such adaptation is shown, in particular,in an outward bulge or in a radial expansion of the lateral surface ofthe head part. The region of the lateral surface, which is undulatory incross section, advantageously provides for provision of additionalmaterial, in the manner of an accordion, a pair of bellows or the like.This can also be described, when viewed in the circumferentialdirection, by the lateral surface in the region of the undulatory crosssection being longer in an unwound state than in a wound state.

On account of the reduced lateral surface thickness, increasedelasticity can be achieved both in the radial direction and in thelongitudinal direction. The advantage of increased elasticity of thehead part in the longitudinal direction is additionally that a climbingmovement at the end of the milking operation is able to be damped. Ifthe rubber teat element knocks against the base of the udder on accountof climbing at the end of the milking operation, the increasedelasticity in the longitudinal direction can contribute to damping theimpact and correspondingly can prevent pressure on the Furstenbergrosette.

The rubber teat element is realized with a head part and a shank partwhich is connected to the head part. In a preferred manner, the headpart is integrally formed with the shank part. The head part and theshank part can be produced in the manner of a monobloc. In particular,the head part and the shank part are produced from a same material.This, is, however, not absolutely necessary because the head part andthe shank part can also be produced from different materials. In apreferred manner, the head part is produced from a material which issofter compared to the material of the shank. As a result, a soft headpart enables even better adaptation to the teat. Over and above this,the advantage of a soft head part is that it is better able to adapt toteats of varying dimension and position on the udder. The advantage of aharder shank part is that the wall thickness of the shank part is ableto be reduced with the same compressive force, which brings about asaving in material. Over and above this, the mechanical load-bearingcapacity of the shank part and consequently also the service life of therubber teat element is increased. The rubber teat element can beproduced, to this end, by means of two-component injection molding. Theproduction can be effected simultaneously or serially or rather oneafter the other.

At least part of the rubber teat element is preferably formed from aplastics material, a plastics material mixture, a rubber or a silicone.This makes it possible for the rubber teat element to be realized in afood grade-approved manner. In particular, a thermoplastic elastomer(TPE) is provided at least in part. The rubber teat element can beproduced, over and above this, by means of injection molding,compression molding, transfer injecting or pressing and/or vulcanizingor cross-linking.

A rubber teat element, as a rule, is a substantially rotationallysymmetrical body. It is, however, not absolutely necessary for all partregions of the rubber teat element to be formed in a rotationallysymmetrical manner. In this way, for example, the expansion region doesnot have to be rotationally symmetrical. The rotational axis, here,defines a longitudinal axis of the rubber teat element. The crosssection of the lateral surface looked at here is substantiallyorthogonal or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A radial directionpoints outwardly from the longitudinal axis. Consequently, there is alsoa circumferential direction with reference to the rubber teat elementwhich can be understood in a clockwise or anticlockwise manner.

The lateral surface is part of the head part. The lateral surface is asubstantially rotationally symmetrical body about the longitudinal axisof the rubber teat element. The lateral surface has at least oneexpansion region which is not necessarily rotationally symmetrical. Thelateral surface has a lateral surface circumference which can also beunderstood here as a central circumference of the lateral surface. Thehead part additionally has an insertion opening, through which a teat ofan animal, in particular of a cow, can be inserted into the rubber teatelement. The insertion opening is delimited, in particular in the radialdirection, by an inwardly pointing lip. Once the teat of an animal isinserted into the rubber teat element, an inside edge of the lip canabut against the teat.

The expansion region extends over at least part of the lateral surfacecircumference. It is, consequently, not absolutely necessary for thelateral surface, when viewed in the circumferential direction, to berealized continuously with the expansion region. Rather, the lateralsurface circumference can be divided into individual circumferencesegments, an expansion region not having to be present in eachcircumference segment. An expansion region can be present, for example,in each second circumference segment. Different expansion regions canalso be provided in the segments. To this end, the cross section of thelateral surface in the relevant expansion regions or segments cancomprises a different undulatory form. In addition, the expansion regionextends over at least part of the head part length. The head partlength, here, refers to the longitudinal axis. When viewed in thelongitudinal direction, the expansion region, proceeding from the shankpart, can begin at a distance from the shank part. When viewed in thelongitudinal direction, the expansion region can additionally end at adistance from the inwardly pointing lip. The lateral surface can also beformed with a softer material compared to the material of the rest ofthe head part in the expansion region.

The lateral surface is formed with an undulatory cross section in theexpansion region. The term undulatory is to be understood here, inparticular, when viewed in the circumferential direction, as an insideradius of the lateral surface and/or an outside radius of the lateralsurface not being constant. The undulatory cross section is describable,in particular, by an alternating occurrence of minima and maxima of acontour of the lateral surface when viewed in the circumferentialdirection. In terms of the invention, different undulatory forms arepossible. Arcuate, in particular sinusoidal, or angular, in particularacute, undulatory forms are possible.

An undulatory form can also be formed on an expansion region outsidesurface and/or an expansion region inside surface by means ofindentations. Such indentations can be arcuate or angular, in particularat the bottom of an indentation. It is also possible to combineindividual undulatory forms with one another. In this case, for example,it is possible, when viewed in cross section, for an inside contour ofthe lateral surface to be realized in a substantially smooth manner inthe region of the expansion region inside circumference, that is to say,when viewed in the circumferential direction, for it to comprise aconstant inside radius, and when viewed in cross section, for an outsidecontour of the lateral surface to comprise an undulatory contour in theregion of the expansion region outside circumference, such that here,when viewed in the circumferential direction, an outside radius of thelateral surface is not constant. In a reverse manner, it is alsopossible, when viewed in cross section, for an outside contour of thelateral surface to be realized in a substantially smooth manner in theregion of the expansion region outside circumference, that is to say,when viewed in the circumferential direction, for an outer radius of thelateral surface to be constant, and when viewed in cross section, for aninside contour of the lateral surface to comprise an undulatory contourin the region of the expansion region inside circumference, that is tosay, when viewed in the circumferential direction, for an inner radiusof the lateral surface not to be constant. It is also possible fordifferent undulatory forms to be provided in the region of the expansionregion inside circumference and in the region of the expansion regionoutside circumference at least over a part region of the lateral surfacecircumference.

According to an advantageous configuration, it is proposed that thelateral surface comprises first indentations in the expansion region.The first indentations, when viewed in the circumferential direction,are spaced apart from one another. The first indentations are directedinwardly from an expansion region outside circumference. The expansionregion has an expansion region outside surface. In addition, each firstindentation has an indentation surface. A ratio of the sum of all thefirst indentation surfaces to the expansion region outside surface hereis less than or equal to one. In a preferred manner, such a ratio isless than 0.9 and in a particularly preferred manner is less than 0.7.

A first indentation corresponds, in particular, when viewed in a radialdirection from outside to inside, to a trough of a wave. The expansionregion outside circumference forms, in particular, an outer envelope oran outermost circumference about the expansion region. The expansionregion outside surface is to be understood as an entire outside surfaceof the expansion region. The expansion region outside surfacecorresponds, in particular, to the surface which the outside surface ofthe expansion region has with the expansion region in a stretched state,or in an unwound state. When the present undulatory form is arcuate, afirst indentation surface corresponds to the surface which can bemeasured between two adjacent turning points of the undulatory form.Said turning points are located in the region of the first indentationor on two adjacent longitudinal edges of the first indentation. Turningpoints are to be understood here as the points at which the curvature ofa contour changes from a clockwise curvature to an anti-clockwisecurvature or vice versa. A turning point can also be comprehended as thepoint at which the behavior of a curvature of a contour changes, forexample as a result of a change from a right-hand curve to a left-handcurve or vice versa. Such a change is also designated as a curve change.If an angular undulatory form is present, the first indentation surfacecorresponds to the substantially level surface in the bottom of the wavetrough, or in the bottom of the first indentation. If an acuteundulatory form is present, the surface of the two tapered flanks can beunderstood as the first indentation surface.

According to an advantageous configuration, it is proposed that thelateral surface comprises, at least in the expansion region, asubstantially constant lateral surface thickness. In addition, eachfirst indentation has a first depth. A ratio of first depth to materialthickness, here, is less than or equal to one. In a preferred manner,such a ratio is less than 0.9 and in a particularly preferred manner isless than 0.85.

The term lateral surface thickness is to be understood as an, inparticular closest, distance between an outside surface of the lateralsurface and an inside surface of the lateral surface. A first depth is,in particular, a shortest distance between the expansion region outsidecircumference and the deepest point of the first indention. The bottomof a first indentation can be comprehended as a deepest point. The firstdepth is to be understood here as a distance in the radial direction.

According to a further advantageous configuration, it is proposed thatthe lateral surface comprises, at least in the expansion region, asubstantially constant lateral surface thickness. Each first indentationhas a first depth. A ratio of first depth to lateral surface thicknessis here greater than one. In a preferred manner, such a ratio is greaterthan 1.15 and in a particularly preferred manner is greater than 1.3.

According to yet another advantageous configuration, it is proposed thateach first indentation has a first depth and the lip has a lip depth. Aratio of first depth to lip depth is here less than or equal to one. Ina preferred manner, such a ratio is less than 0.6 and in a particularlypreferred manner is less than 0.2. The lip depth designates here, inparticular, the radially inwardly directed expansion of the lip.

According to an advantageous configuration, it is proposed that the headpart has a head part length and each first indentation has a firstindentation length. A ratio of first indentation length to head partlength is here less than or equal to one. In a preferred manner, such aratio is less than 0.9 and in a particularly preferred manner is lessthan 0.8. The first indentation length designates here the expansion ofthe first indentation in the longitudinal direction.

According to a further advantageous configuration, it is proposed thateach first indentation has a first indentation length and the expansionregion has an expansion region length. A ratio of first indentationlength to expansion region length is here less than or equal to one. Ina preferred manner, such a ratio is less than 0.9 and in a particularlypreferred manner is less than or equal to 0.85. Such a ratio, however,is in a preferred manner at least 0.6 and in a particularly preferredmanner at least 0.7.

The expansion region length designates here the expansion of theexpansion region in the longitudinal direction. In a preferred manner,the expansion region length is constant when viewed in thecircumferential direction. However, this is not absolutely necessarybecause the expansion region length can also be formed in a variablemanner over the lateral surface circumference. It is further preferredthat the first indentation length corresponds to the expansion regionlength.

When the first indentation length is less than the expansion regionlength, at least one first proportion of first indentations, when viewedin the longitudinal direction, can begin at a bottom edge of theexpansion region and a second proportion of first indentations can beginat a top edge of the expansion region. The first indentations, whenviewed in the longitudinal direction, can end in each case prior toreaching the oppositely situated edge. With reference to a cross sectionof the lateral surface, there can consequently also be an overlap offirst indentations. An overlap region can be created here when viewed inthe longitudinal direction. It is preferred for the first indentationsto extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction.However, this is not absolutely necessary because the first indentationscan also extend at an angle or in a skewed manner with respect to thelongitudinal direction. As a result, when viewed in the longitudinaldirection, there can also be an overlap region of first indentations.

According to a further advantageous configuration, it is proposed thatthe first indentations are arranged equidistantly to one another in thecircumferential direction.

According to an advantageous configuration, it is proposed that thelateral surface comprises second indentations in the expansion region.The second indentations, when viewed in the circumferential direction,are spaced apart from one another. The second indentations are directedoutwardly from an expansion region inside circumference. The expansionregion has an expansion region inside surface. Each second indentationhas a second indentation surface. A ratio of the sum of all the secondindentation surfaces to the expansion region inside surface here is lessthan or equal to one. In a preferred manner, such a ratio is less thanor equal to 0.9 and in a particularly preferred manner is less than orequal to 0.85.

A second indentation corresponds, in particular when viewed in a radialdirection from inside to outside, to a trough of a wave. The expansionregion inside circumference is, in particular, an innermostcircumference of the expansion region. The expansion region insidesurface is to be understood as an entire inside surface of the expansionregion. The expansion region inside surface corresponds, in particular,to the surface which the inside surface of the expansion region has withthe expansion region in a stretched state, or in an unwound state. Whenthe present undulatory form is arcuate, a second indentation surfacecorresponds to the surface which can be measured between two adjacentturning points of the undulatory form. Said turning points are locatedin the region of the second indentation or on two adjacent longitudinaledges of the second indentation. Turning points are to be understoodhere as the points at which the curvature of a contour changes from aclockwise curvature to an anti-clockwise curvature or vice versa. Aturning point can also be comprehended as the point at which thebehavior of a curvature of a contour changes, for example as a result ofa change from a right-hand curve to a left-hand curve or vice versa.Such a change is also designated as a curve change. If an angularundulatory form is present, the second indentation surface correspondsto the substantially level surface at the bottom of the wave trough, orat the bottom of the second indentation. If an acute undulatory form ispresent, the surface of the two tapered flanks can be understood as thesecond indentation surface.

According to an advantageous configuration, it is proposed that thelateral surface, at least in the expansion region, comprises asubstantially constant lateral surface thickness. In addition, eachsecond indentation has a second depth. A ratio of second depth tolateral surface thickness is here less than or equal to one. In apreferred manner, such a ratio is less than 0.9 and in a particularlypreferred manner is less than 0.85.

The term lateral surface thickness is to be understood as an, inparticular, shortest distance between an outside surface of the lateralsurface and an inside surface of the lateral surface. A second depth is,in particular, a shortest distance between the expansion region insidecircumference and the deepest point of the second indentation. Thebottom of the second indentation can be comprehended as a deepest point.The second depth is to be understood here as a distance in the radialdirection.

According to a further advantageous configuration, it is proposed thatthe lateral surface, at least in the expansion region, comprises asubstantially constant lateral surface thickness. Each secondindentation has a second depth. A ratio of second depth to lateralsurface thickness is here greater than one. In a preferred manner, sucha ratio is greater than 1.15 and in a particularly preferred manner isgreater than 1.3.

According to yet another advantageous configuration, it is proposed thateach second indentation has a second depth and the lip has a lip depth.A ratio of second depth to lip depth is here less than or equal to one.In a preferred manner, such a ratio is less than 0.6 and in aparticularly preferred manner is less than 0.2. The lip depth designateshere the radially inwardly directed expansion of the lip.

According to an advantageous configuration, it is proposed that the headpart has a head part length and each second indentation has a secondindentation length. A ratio of second indentation length to head partlength is here less than or equal to one. In a preferred manner, such aratio is less than 0.9 and in a particularly preferred manner is lessthan 0.8. The second indentation length designates here the expansion ofthe second indentation in the longitudinal direction.

According to a further advantageous configuration, it is proposed thateach second indentation has a second indentation length and theexpansion region has an expansion region length. A ratio of secondindentation length to expansion region length is here less than or equalto one. In a preferred manner, such a ratio is less than 0.9 and in aparticularly preferred manner is less than 0.85. Such a ratio, however,in a preferred manner is at least 0.6 and in a particularly preferredmanner is 0.7. The expansion region length designates here the expansionof the expansion region in the longitudinal direction. In a preferredmanner, the expansion region length is constant when viewed in thecircumferential direction. However, this is not absolutely necessarybecause the expansion region length can also be formed in a variablemanner over the lateral surface circumference. It is further preferredfor the second indentation length to correspond to the expansion regionlength.

When the second indentation length is less than the expansion regionlength, at least one first proportion of second indentations, whenviewed in the longitudinal direction, can begin at a bottom edge of theexpansion region and a second proportion of second indentations canbegin at a top edge of the expansion region. The second indentations,when viewed in the longitudinal direction, can end in each case prior toreaching the oppositely situated edge. With reference to a cross sectionof the lateral surface, it is consequently possible for the secondindentations to overlap. When viewed in the longitudinal direction, anoverlap region can be created in this connection. It is preferred forthe second indentations to extend in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal direction. However, this is not absolutely necessarybecause the second indentations can also extend at an angle or in askewed manner with respect to the longitudinal direction. As a result,when viewed in the longitudinal direction, there can be an overlapregion of second indentations.

According to a further advantageous configuration, it is proposed thatthe second indentations are arranged equidistantly with respect to oneanother in the circumferential direction.

According to a further advantageous configuration, it is proposed thatthe lateral surface, at least in the expansion region, comprises asubstantially constant lateral surface thickness. In a preferred manner,the entire lateral surface comprises a substantially constant lateralsurface thickness.

According to a further advantageous configuration, it is proposed thatthe head part has a head part length and the expansion region has anexpansion region length. A ratio of expansion region length to head partlength is here less than or equal to one. In a preferred manner, such aratio is less than 0.8 and in a particularly preferred manner is lessthan 0.7.

According to a further advantageous configuration, it is proposed thatthe shank part is formed in one piece with a short milk tube on an endlocated opposite the head part. Such a realization is also designated asa monobloc. In a preferred manner, the rubber teat element and the shortmilk tube are formed from a common material, in particular from rubberor silicone. In this connection, the rubber teat element can also beformed from a softer material than the short milk tube. Reference ismade here to the above-described realizations and production methods ofthe rubber teat element and of the materials thereof.

According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a teat cuphaving a rubber teat element. The rubber teat element is realized with ahead part and a shank part which is connected to the head part, whereinthe head part has a lateral surface and an insertion opening for a teatof an animal. The insertion opening, in this case, is delimited by aninwardly pointing lip. Over and above this, the lateral surface has atleast one expansion region. The expansion region extends over at leastpart of a lateral surface circumference and at least part of a head partlength. The lateral surface is formed with an undulatory cross sectionin the expansion region.

A teat cup also includes a teat cup sleeve. In a preferred manner, therubber teat element is connected to the milk cup sleeve in anon-positive locking manner and/or in a positive locking manner.

The advantages and particular features depicted above for the rubberteat element according to the invention are transferrable in acorresponding manner to the milk cup described here. In particular, themilk cup can also be developed further in a manner corresponding to therubber teat element according to the invention. Full reference is madehere to the above explanations and characterizations of the rubber teatelement according to the invention

According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a milkingcluster having a claw and at least two teat cups. In this connection, atleast one of the teat cups is realized having a rubber teat element witha head part and a shank part which is connected to the head part,wherein the head part has a lateral surface and an insertion opening fora teat of an animal. The insertion opening, in this case, is delimitedby an inwardly pointing lip. Over and above this, the lateral surfacehas at least one expansion region. The expansion region extends over atleast part of a lateral surface circumference and at least part of ahead part length. The lateral surface is formed with an undulatory crosssection in the expansion region.

The advantages and particular features depicted above for the rubberteat element according to the invention are transferrable in acorresponding manner to the milking cluster described here. Inparticular, the milking cluster can also be developed further in amanner corresponding to the rubber teat element according to theinvention. Full reference is made here to the above explanations andcharacterizations of the rubber teat element according to the invention.

The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detailbelow by way of the figures. It must be pointed out that the figuresshow particularly preferred realization variants and details of theinvention, said invention, however, is not limited to these preferredrealization variants and details. The figures and in particular theproportions shown therein are only schematic. The figures are asfollows:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: shows a perspective view of a rubber teat element,

FIG. 2: shows a schematic view of an undulated cross section of thelateral surface,

FIG. 3: shows schematic views of exemplary undulatory forms,

FIG. 4: shows a schematic view of part of an undulated cross section ofthe lateral surface,

FIG. 5: shows schematic views of indentation surfaces of exemplaryundulatory forms,

FIG. 6: shows a perspective view of a rubber teat element with a shortmilk tube,

FIG. 7: shows a sectional representation of a rubber teat element with ashort milk tube,

FIG. 8: shows a perspective view of a milking cluster.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a rubber teat element 1. The rubberteat element 1 is formed with a head part 2 and a shank part 3 which isconnected to the head part 2. The head part 2 has a lateral surface 5and an insertion opening 6 for a teat of an animal. The head part 2 hasadditionally an inwardly pointing lip, the insertion opening 6 beingdelimited radially outwardly by the lip 4. The lip 4 has a lip depth 21in the radial direction. The rubber teat element 1 is formed in onepart.

It can be seen from the representation according to FIG. 1 that thelateral surface 5 has an expansion region 7. The expansion region 7extends here over a lateral surface circumference 8. In addition, theexpansion region 7 extends over part of a head part length 9. Theextension of the expansion region 7 in the longitudinal direction isshown as an expansion region length 24. The lateral surface 5 is formedwith an undulatory cross section in the expansion region 7. The lateralsurface 5 has first indentations 10 in the expansion region 7 for thispurpose. The first indentations 10 have a first indentation length 22and, when viewed in the circumferential direction, are arranged spacedapart from one another. The cross-sectional plane 35 is indicated inFIG. 1 by means of a dot-dash line.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an undulated cross section of thelateral surface 5. It is shown that an expansion region 7 can also onlyextend over part of the lateral surface circumference 8. It canadditionally be seen that the lateral surface 5 can have more than oneexpansion region 7. Two oppositely situated expansion regions 7, whichare realized with different undulatory forms, are shown here. FIG. 2additionally shows a constant lateral surface thickness 18 and acircumferential direction 29.

It can be seen in the cross-sectional view in FIG. 2 that the lateralsurface 5 comprises first indentations 10 and second indentations 13 inthe expansion region 7. The indentations 10, 13, when viewed in thecircumferential direction, are spaced apart from one another. The firstindentations 10, when viewed in the radial direction, point from outsideto inside and the second indentations 13, when viewed in the radialdirection, point from inside to outside. Two expansion regions 7, whichare undulatory in cross section, are formed here by way of the firstindentations 10 and the second indentations 13. The head part 2 isexpandable in the radial direction due to the expansion regions 7 and tothe undulations.

FIG. 3 shows schematic views of exemplary undulatory forms. Theundulatory forms or undulations are each shown in cross section, theundulations being shown here in a simplified horizontal manner and notcurved about the center of a circle. The undulatory forms of examples a)and b) each comprise a constant lateral surface thickness 18. Firstindentations 10 and second indentations 13 are shown. A first depth 19and a second depth 20 are shown by way of example b). Example a) showsan arcuate undulatory form and example b) shows an angular undulatoryform. In the examples in FIG. 3, the outside of the expansion region isshown in each case at the top and the inside of the expansion region isshown in each case at the bottom.

Examples c) and d) of FIG. 3 show that the outside of the lateralsurface can also be realized in a substantially smooth manner in theexpansion region. Here, in each case only the inside of the lateralsurface is formed with an undulating contour in cross section. Examplec) shows here an arcuate undulatory form and example d) shows an angularundulatory form. Examples e) and f) show that only the outside of thelateral surface can also be formed with an undulatory contour in crosssection, the inside of the lateral surfacing being formed here in asubstantially smooth manner in the expansion region. Example e) shows anarcuate undulatory form and example f) shows an angular undulatory form.Second indentations 13 are consequently shown in examples c) and d),first indentations 10 being shown in examples e) and f).

Further exemplary undulatory forms are shown in examples g) and h) ofFIG. 3. Example g) illustrates that the undulation of the outside andthe undulation of the inside do not have to have the same amplitude northe same wave length. First indentations 10 and second indentations 13are shown. Example h) shows that the undulations can also be opposed,first indentations 10 and second indentations 13, when viewed in theradial direction, being located opposite one another. Examples c)-h)also show that the lateral surface 5 does not necessarily have to have aconstant lateral surface thickness 18 in the expansion region 7.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of part of an undulated cross section ofthe lateral surface 5. An angular undulatory form is shown in FIG. 4. Anexpansion region inside radius 30 and an expansion region outside radius31 of the expansion region 7 can be seen. Over and above this, theexpansion region 7 has an expansion region outside circumference 12 andan expansion region inside circumference 15, which are shown here ineach case by broken lines. Part of the lateral surface 5 is shown herein cross section and it can be seen that the lateral surface has firstindentations 10 and second indentations 13 in the expansion region 7.Once again, the lateral surface 5 has a constant lateral surfacethickness 18.

FIG. 5 shows schematic views of indentation surfaces of exemplaryundulatory forms. Example a) shows an arcuate undulatory form andexample b) shows an angular undulatory form. A longitudinal direction 32and a circumferential direction 29 are marked here for orientationpurposes. The view, when seen in the radial direction, is directed herefrom outside to inside to an outer part of the expansion region 7. Firstindentations 14 and second indentations 10 can be seen in said directionof view. Example a) shows an arcuate undulatory form, the firstindentation surface 14 here being the surface between two adjacentturning points of the undulation in the region of the first indentation10. The turning points 34 are shown here as dotted lines along thelongitudinal direction 32. Examples a) and b) of FIG. 5 each show afirst indentation surface 14 in a hatched manner. The second indentationsurfaces 17 cannot be seen on account of the direction of view takenhere, they are, however, to be understood in an analogous manner to thefirst indentation surfaces 14. As the view is directed from outside toinside in the radial direction, an expansion region outside surface 11can also be seen here. The expansion region outside surface 11 is theentire outside surface of the expansion region 7. The expansion regioninside surface 16 cannot be seen on account of the direction of view.The expansion region inside surface 16 is to be understood in ananalogous manner to the expansion region outside surface 11 andconsequently describes the entire inside surface of the expansion region7.

Example b) of FIG. 5 shows an angular undulatory form. As the view, whenseen in the radial direction, is directed from outside to inside, afirst indentation surface 14 of a first indentation 10 can be seen here.When an angular undulatory form is present, it is not necessary to useturning points for determining the first indentation surface 14. Thefirst indentation surface 14 relates here to the substantially evensurface in the bottom of the first indentation 10 which can also becomprehended in said direction of view as a wave trough.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a rubber teat element 1 with a shortmilk tube 25. The rubber teat element 1 and the short milk tube 25 areconnected together fixedly at the end of the shank part 3. The rubberteat element and the short milk tube 25 are formed in one piece here.Such a one-piece realization of rubber teat element 1 and short milktube 25 is also designated as a monobloc. The longitudinal axis 33 ofthe rubber teat element 1 is marked in FIG. 6. The longitudinal axis 33relates here to the rotational axis of the rubber teat element 1. Alongitudinal direction 32 is additionally shown.

It can be seen from the representation according to FIG. 6 that thelateral surface 5 of the head part 2 has an expansion region 7. Theexpansion region 7 extends in the longitudinal direction 32 over anexpansion region length 24. It can also be seen that the lateral surface5 comprises first indentations 10 in the expansion region 7.

FIG. 7 shows a sectional representation of a rubber teat element 1 witha short milk tube 25. The cutting plane viewed in FIG. 7 is marked inFIG. 6 as section VII-VII. It can be seen in the sectionalrepresentation that the rubber teat element 1 and the short milk tube 25are formed in one piece. In the present example, the rubber teat element1 which is connected to a short milk tube 25 is produced from siliconeand as a monobloc.

According to the representation according to FIG. 7, it can also be seenthat the lateral surface 5 comprises first indentations 10 in theexpansion region 7. An insertion opening 6 for a teat of an animal canalso be seen. The insertion opening 6 is delimited by an inwardlypointing lip 4.

Second indentations 13 can also be seen from the sectionalrepresentation according to FIG. 7. The second indentations 13 areformed running in opposition to the longitudinal direction 32. To thisend, the second indentations are tapered in each case in opposition tothe longitudinal direction 32. The second indentations 13 follow aninner profile of the rubber teat element 1 in this connection.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a milking cluster 27. The milkingcluster 27 includes here a claw 28 and two teat cups 26. The teat cups26 are each realized with a rubber teat element 1. The teat cups 26 areeach connected to the claw 28 by means of a short milk tube 25.

The present invention provides a rubber teat element which, on accountof the radial expandability of the head part, is able to adapt todifferent teat geometries, in particular in the case where an animal hassmall, thin and short teats. A teat cup and a milking cluster with acorresponding rubber teat element are also provided.

1. A rubber teat element comprising: a head part; and a shank partconnected to the head part; wherein the head part has a lateral surfaceand an insertion opening for a teat of an animal, wherein the insertionopening is delimited by an inwardly extending lip, and the lateralsurface includes an expansion region which extends over at least part ofa lateral surface circumference and at least part of a head part length,wherein the lateral surface is at least partially formed with anundulatory cross section in the expansion region.
 2. The rubber teatelement as of claim 1, wherein the lateral surface comprises a pluralityof spaced apart and inwardly directed first indentations in theexpansion region, and wherein the expansion region has an expansionregion outside surface and wherein each first indentation has a firstindentation surface and a ratio of the sum of all the first indentationsurfaces to the expansion region outside surface is less than or equalto one.
 3. The rubber teat element of claim 2, wherein the lateralsurface expansion region, comprises a substantially constant lateralsurface thickness, and wherein each first indentation has a first depthand a ratio of the first depth to lateral surface thickness is less thanor equal to one.
 4. The rubber teat element of claim 2, wherein thelateral surface expansion region, comprises a substantially constantlateral surface thickness, and wherein each first indentation has afirst depth and a ratio of the first depth to the lateral surfacethickness is greater than one.
 5. The rubber teat element of claim 2,wherein each first indentation has a first depth and the lip has a lipdepth, and a ratio of the first depth to the lip depth is less than orequal to one.
 6. The rubber teat element of claim 2, wherein the headpart defines a head part length and each first indentation has a firstindentation length, wherein a ratio of the first indentation length tothe head part length is less than or equal to one.
 7. The rubber teatelement of claim 2, wherein each first indentation defines a firstindentation length and the expansion region defines an expansion regionlength, wherein a ratio of the first indentation length to the expansionregion length is less than or equal to one.
 8. The rubber teat elementof claim 2, wherein the first indentations are arranged equidistantlywith respect to one another in the circumferential direction.
 9. Therubber teat element of claim 1, wherein the lateral surface furthercomprises: a plurality of outwardly directed and circumferentiallyspaced apart second indentations in the expansion region, wherein thesecond indentations are directed outwardly from an expansion regioninside circumference, and wherein the expansion region has an expansionregion inside surface and wherein each second indentation has a secondindentation surface, and a ratio of the sum of all the secondindentation surfaces to the expansion region inside surface is less thanor equal to one.
 10. The rubber teat element of claim 9, wherein thelateral surface expansion region, comprises a substantially constantlateral surface thickness, and wherein each second indentation has asecond depth, a ratio of the second depth to the lateral surfacethickness is less than or equal to one.
 11. The rubber teat element ofclaim 9, wherein the lateral surface expansion region, comprises asubstantially constant lateral surface thickness, and wherein eachsecond indentation has a second depth, and wherein a ratio of the seconddepth to the lateral surface thickness is greater than one.
 12. Therubber teat element of claim 9, wherein each second indentation has asecond depth and the lip has a lip depth, and a ratio of the seconddepth to the lip depth is less than or equal to one.
 13. The rubber teatelement of claim 9, wherein the head part defines a head part length andeach second indentation has a second indentation length, wherein a ratioof the second indentation length to the head part length is less than orequal to one.
 14. The rubber teat element of claim 9, wherein eachsecond indentation defines a second indentation length and the expansionregion defines an expansion region length, wherein a ratio of the secondindentation length to the expansion region length is less than or equalto one.
 15. The rubber teat element of claim 9, wherein the secondindentations are arranged equidistantly with respect to one another inthe circumferential direction.
 16. The rubber teat element of claim 1,wherein the lateral surface expansion region, comprises a substantiallyconstant lateral surface thickness.
 17. The rubber teat element of claim1, wherein the head part defines a head part length and the expansionregion defines an expansion region length, and wherein a ratio of theexpansion region length to the head part length is less than or equal toone.
 18. The rubber teat element of claim 1, wherein the shank part isformed integrally with a short milk tube on a shank part end locatedopposite to the head part.
 19. A teat cup assembly comprising: a rubberteat element with a head part; and a shank part connected to the headpart; wherein the head part has a lateral surface and an insertionopening for a teat of an animal, wherein the insertion opening isdelimited by an inwardly extending lip, and the lateral surface includesan expansion region which extends over at least part of a lateralsurface circumference and at least part of a head part length, whereinthe lateral surface is at least partially formed with an undulatorycross section in the expansion region.
 20. (canceled)
 21. A milkingcluster having a claw and at least two teat cups, wherein at least oneof the teat cups includes a rubber teat element comprising: a head part;and a shank part which is connected to the head part; wherein the headpart has a lateral surface and an insertion opening for a teat of ananimal, wherein the insertion opening is delimited by a inwardlyextending lip, and the lateral surface includes an expansion regionwhich extends over at least part of a lateral surface circumference andat least part of a head part length, wherein the lateral surface is atleast partially formed with an undulatory cross section in the expansionregion.
 22. (canceled)
 23. The teat cup assembly of claim 19, whereinthe lateral surface further comprises: a plurality of outwardly directedand circumferentially spaced apart second indentations in the expansionregion, wherein the second indentations are directed outwardly from anexpansion region inside circumference, and wherein the expansion regionhas an expansion region inside surface and each second indentation has asecond indentation surface, and a ratio of the sum of all the secondindentation surfaces to the expansion region inside surface is less thanor equal to one.
 24. The milking cluster of claim 21, wherein thelateral surface further comprises: a plurality of outwardly directed andcircumferentially spaced apart second indentations in the expansionregion, wherein the second indentations are directed outwardly from anexpansion region inside circumference, and wherein the expansion regionhas an expansion region inside surface and each second indentation has asecond indentation surface, and a ratio of the sum of all the secondindentation surfaces to the expansion region inside surface is less thanor equal to one.